In his Philosophy of Style, Herbert Spencer gives two sentences to illustrate how the vague and general can be turned into the vivid and particular In proportion as the manners, customs, and amusements of a nation are cruel and barbarous, the regulations of its penal code will be severe. In proportion as men delight in battles, bullfights, and combats of gladiators, will they punish by hanging, burning, and the rack.
More Quotes from William Strunk, Jr.:
Omit needless words.William Strunk, Jr.
Omit needless words. Vigorous writing is concise. A sentence should contain no unnecessary words, a paragraph no unnecessary sentences, for the same reason that a drawing should have no unnecessary lines and a machine no unnecessary parts. This requires not that the writer make all his sentences short, or that he avoid all detail and treat his subjects only in outline, but that every word tell.
William Strunk, Jr.
Opinions scattered indiscriminately about leave the mark of egotism.
William Strunk, Jr.
In exposition and in argument, the writer must likewise never lose his hold upon the concrete and even when he is dealing with general principles, he must furnish particular instances of their application.
William Strunk, Jr.
Make definite assertions. Avoid tame, colorless, hesitating, non-committal language.
William Strunk, Jr.
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Based on Topics: Custom & Convention Quotes, Manner Quotes, War & Peace QuotesBased on Keywords: amusements, barbarous, bullfights, combats, gladiators, herbert, penal, rack, spencer
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